What In The World Has Happened To The Southern Baptist Convention? The Rapid Decline and Disintegration of the S.B.C. By: Dr. Stan A. Frye President Of Gateway International Missions, Inc. P.O. Box 667 Taylorsville, N.C. 28681 Office Phone: 828-632-2344 E-mail Address: [email protected] Web Site: gatewayinternationalmissions.com I Table of Contents Pages Table of Contents………………..………..……………………………………………………………..I–VI Acknowledgments……………….…………..………………………………..……………........VIII–IX Introduction……………….……………………………..…………………..……………………..……..1-7 Introductory Remarks…...………….…………..………….……..……………………………1-2 My Introduction To Southern Baptist Life…………………………………..………….2-4 My Eyes Were Truly Opened At The Bible Institute…………………...…………..4-6 One More Point Before We Begin……...………………………………………..………….6-7 I. Chapter One: The Origin of The Southern Baptist Convention……….……….9-11 II. Chapter Two: Some Of The Early Struggles Of The S.B.C.…………………….13-18 A. The Struggle With Calvinism…………………..………………………………..………13-14 B. The Struggle With Campbellism…….…...………..……….………….………………14-16 C. The Struggle With Landmarkism…………………..………………………..………..16-18 III. Chapter Three: Big Challenges Before The Early S.B.C.……………..…………19-23 A. The Seventy-Five Million Campaign……………..……..……………..…………….19-20 B. The Beginning Of The Cooperative Program, Blessing Or Curse!.........20-23 1. The Cooperative Program Became A Ticket For Participation!...........21-22 2. The Cooperative Program Became A Weapon of Manipulation!................22 3. The Cooperative Program Became A Standard For Church Validity!.22-23 IV. Chapter Four: The Development Of Southern Baptist Education: The Places Where The Decline Really Started!....................................................................25-32 *The Four Major Controversies That Have Contributed To The Decline Of The Southern Baptist Convention!……………….…………………………………………….26-32 1. The First Controversy: The Nature Of Biblical Revelation…………………….26 2. The Second Controversy: The Message Of Genesis……………….………….26-29 3. The Third Controversy: Methods Of Interpretation……….……………………..29 4. The Fourth Controversy: The Issue Of Inerrancy……….……………………29-32 V. Chapter Five: The Conservatives Begin Their Rescue Of The Southern Baptist Convention!………..…………………….…………………………………………….33-38 A. The Moderates’ Interpretation Of Adrian Rogers' Election………………34-35 B. Adrian Rogers Declines A Second Term But Returns……………..…………35-37 C. The Mad And Angry People In Atlanta………………….…………………………..37-38 VI. Chapter Six: Much Progress, But Wrong Priorities!………………………….…39-42 A. God Sent Some Wonderful Presidents To The Convention……………...39-40 B. Much Progress And Wrong Priorities Defined!……………….………………40-41 II C. Notice The Valid Fear The Conservatives Had………………..…………………. 41-42 VII. Chapter Seven: The Many Failures Leading To The Decline Of The Southern Baptist Convention……………………………………………………………….. 43-61 A. There Is The Failure Of Lost Passion……………………………………………………….43 B. There Is The Failure Of Trying To Down Play The Importance Of The Local Church……………………………..…………………………………………………………………44-45 C. There Is The Failure Of Trying To Contextualize The Gospel So It Won't Be Offensive……………………………………………………………………………………………45-47 D. There Is The Failure Of Exchanging The Preached Written Word Of God For The Oral Presentation Of The Gospel…………….…………………..………..47-50 E. There Is The Failure Of Placating The "Me Too" Movement………………..50-52 1. The Wrath Of God Poured Out—Humiliation Of The Southern Baptist Convention…………………………………………………………………………….………….52-54 2. Southern Baptist Women Launch Petition Against Paige Patterson…..55-59 F. There Is The Failure Of Reinventing The "Good Ole Boy” Buddy System…….. ……………………………………………………………………………………………..……..…59-61 VIII. Chapter Eight: Some Real Examples Of Incompetent Leaders……..….63-123 A. Dr. Al Mohler, Jr., “Good Ole Boy” Number 1..………………….…….……………63-69 1. Dr. Al Mohler, Jr. Serves As President Of The Southern Baptist Theological Seminary………………………………………………………………………..…………………63-65 2. Al Mohler And The Conviction To Lead From Behind…………………….…65–67 3. God’s Purpose Of Grace...............................................................................................68 4. Election……………………………………………………………………………………………..68-69 B. Dr. Jerry Rankin, “Good Ole Boy” Number 2………………..……………………..69-83 1. IMB Trustees Clash With Rankin Over Doctrinal Charges…………………70-72 2. IMB President Speaks Plainly With State Editors About Private Prayer Language…………………………………………………………………………………….…….73-81 3. Jerry Rankin Almost Destroyed World Missions By His Blatant Switch In Strategy For World Mission Outreach……………………………………………….82-83 C. Dr. Tom Elliff, “Good Ole Boy” Number 3.…………………..………………………..83-87 1. IMB’s President Tom Elliff To Step Down……………………………..………………..84 2. Elliff's IMB Tenure One Of Energy And Prayer………………………………… 84–87 a. Heart For Ministry………………………………………………………………………………85 b. Chasers Of Darkness………………………………………………………..…………………85 c. Passionate In Prayer…………………………………………………..…………………85-86 d. Humble Cheerleader………….………………………………………………………….86-87 D. Dr. David Platt, “Good Ole Boy” Number 4…………………………………………. 87-93 1. David Platt's Message At The 2012 Pastor's Conference Of The S.B.C.88–89 2. Let’s Look At The Second Chapter In John…………………………………………..….89 3. John Does Not Say Jesus Rejected Their Faith…………………………………...90-91 4. Listen To Platt’s Preconceived Conclusion TO All This……………………...91-92 5. Amen And Amen!....................................................................................................92-93 E. Dr. Bob Reccord, “Good Ole Boy” Number 5……….……………...………………..93-97 *NAMB President Bob Reccord Resigns Over Allegations Of Poor III Management.……………………………………………………………………………….……93-97 F. Dr. Danny Akin, “Good Ole Boy” Number 6………………….…………………….97-107 1. Divine Sovereignty And Human Responsibility:………………………..……………99 2. A Look At Calvinism………………….…………………………….……………………….99-100 a. Total Depravity…………………………………………………….…………………………….100 b. Unconditional Election………………………………………..………………………100-101 c. Limited Atonement…………………………………………………………….……………….101 d. Irresistible Grace……….………………………………………………….……………………101 e. Perseverance Of The Saints…………………………………………………………101-102 3. Finding Biblical Balance: Theological And Practical Considerations…….……. ……………………………………………………………………………………………………102-105 4. Conclusion…………………….…………………………………..…………………………..105-106 5. Glossary Of Theological Terms………………………………….…………..…….…106-107 G. Dr. Geoff Hammond, “Good Ole Boy” Number 7…….………………………..107-112 1. S.B.C. President Releases Statement On Hammond Resignation…….107-109 2. Dr. Geoff Hammond's Resignation……………………...……….…………………109-112 H. Dr. Kevin Ezell, “Good Ole Boy” Number 8….…….……………………..………112-117 1. Al Mohler's Pastor Recommended As New NAMB President……...…..113-114 2. Is The New NAMB Really Working?..............................................................114-117 a. Evangelism…………………………………..………………………………………….……114-115 b. Church Planting……………………………………………………………….…….…………….115 c. Partnership And Cooperation…………………..…..…………………..………………….115 d. Financial Stewardship……………………………………….………………………….115-116 e. The Character Of The President……………………………………………………………116 f. Oversight And Accountability………………...………………………….…………..116-117 g. Broader Awareness………….………………………………..…………………………………117 I. Russell Moore, “Good Old Boy” Number 9……………………..…….……………117-123 1. Russell Moore Receives Dreaded Vote Of Confidence!..……….……….…118-120 2. Russell Moore: Eighth President Of ERLC………………..……..……………………….120 3. Russell Moore And The Fight For The Soul Of The Southern Baptist Convention………………………………………………………………………………….121-123 IX. Chapter Nine: The Growing Infestation Of Calvinism……..……………….125-166 A. The Calvinists Are Here………………………..………………………………………..127-131 B. Characteristics Of New Calvinism……………..……………………………………131-134 1. Doctrinal Errors……………………………………..………………………………………….132 2. Antinomianism……………………………. ....…………………………………………132-133 3. Worldliness…………………………………..……………………………………………………133 4. Contemporary Worship………………………………….……..…………………….133-134 5. Emerging Church……………………………..…..……………….……………………………134 C. Christian Rap - Music of the New Calvinists…….……………..………………134-139 1. Pastor Thabiti Anyabwile…………………….…….…………………………………134-135 2. John Piper And Desiring God…………….………………….………………………………135 3. Albert Mohler Of Southern Baptist Seminary………..…………………….. 135-136 4. Mark Driscoll Of Mars Hill Church, Seattle………………………….………………..136 5. Moody Bible Institute………..…….…….…………………………………………………….136 IV 6. Pastor Scott Aniol…………………………………..……………………………………………137 7. A Biblical Response…………………………………………………..…………………………137 8. Spiritual Discernment…………………………….……………………………………137-138 9. Discerning the Spirit Of Holy Hip-Hop………………….……..……………… 138-139 10. A Vivid Exposure Of Al Mohler And Hip-Hop………………………………………. 139 D. Al Mohler Endorses The New Calvinism…………………………..……………. 140-142 1. Compromised Conduct………………………….………………..……………………………. 140 2. Mixing The Holy And The Profane………………………….……….………….….140-141 3. The Al Mohler Program Promotes Hip-Hop Culture………………………………141 4. Interpreting Mohler's Position On Hip-Hop Culture……………..…….…141-142 E. Further Explicit Explanation Of The New Calvinism…………..…………..142-166 1. The New Calvinists: Part I……………………………..………..…………………….143-153 2. The New Calvinists: Part II………………………….………..………………………153-165 3. One More Chapter Note………………………………………………………………..165-166 X. Chapter Ten: Take A Look At The New Image Of The Southern Baptist Convention……………………………………………………………………………………….167-181 A. Is J.D. Greear Truly A Southern Baptist?............................................................168